Quantifying the fuel loading of a burn unit is important for understanding potential fire behavior and smoke emissions. Among other things, a burn unit’s fuel load can influence the amount of smoke released, flame lengths, and duration of burning during a prescribed fire. Fuel loading is often an input for smoke models, emissions models, and fire behavior models. Some states require estimates of fuel loads when requesting a burn authorization.

The new Southern Fire Exchange fact sheet “Understanding and Assessing Fuel Loading in the Southeastern United States” provides a summary of the fuel loading concept, a review of fuel load estimation methods, and a list of resources for learning more.